Movable figure card toy



May 9, 1967 B. KINBERG MOVABLE FIGURE CARD TOY Filed Aug. 4, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if \t R r W R mm 3 N m EN 0 v M m A Fig.5

May ,9, 1967 Filed Aug. 4, 1964 B. KINBERG MOVABLE FIGURE CARD TOY 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR BEN JAMIN KINBERG AT RNEY United States Patent ()fiiee 3,318,540 Patented May 9, 1967 3,318,040 MOVABLE FIGURE CARD TOY Benjamin Kinberg, 425 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10025 Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,473 10 Claims. (CI. 4637) The present invention relates to amusement devices or toys, and more particularly to cards and the like having movable and changeable pictures thereon.

Heretofore, toys of the foregoing type have been devised but such toys were objectionable and disadvan- .tageous in that they were unduly complicated and/or lacked durability.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy of the foregoing character which is not subject to the objection and disadvantage of such heretofore devised toys and which is extremely simple and economical and is constructed of a minimum of durable parts.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by a toy generally comprising a transparent top sheet, a figure formed of resilient sheet material cut to shape to provide a body and at least one extremity extending outwardly from the body, means for securing the body of the figure to the underside of the top sheet, a bottom sheet under the top sheet having its upper surface in frictional engagement with the figure, and means for mounting the sheets for movement with respect to each other to eifect distortion of the figure. 1

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toy in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with the figures in normal or inactive position as shown in full line and in actuated or distorted position as shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a figure apart from the toy.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention illustrating the toy in the form of a display card or the like.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 on FIG. 5. v

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings in detail, there is shown a toy which generally comprises a frame 10, a transparent top sheet 11 within the frame, a bottom sheet 12 slidably mounted in the frame, and one or more figures 14 positioned between the top and bottom sheets and attached thereto in the manner described hereinafter.

The frame is rectangular, and comprises an upper member 15 formed with window 16, a lower member 17, and spacing means 18 sandwiched between the upper and lower members at the side edges thereof.

The top sheet is adhesively secured to the underside of the upper member 15 and extends across the window 16. The sheet 11 preferably is formed of a transparent plastic resin such as cellulose acetate which is relatively stiff and durable.

The bottom sheet 12 is slidably disposed between the upper and lower frame members 15 and 17, and preferably is formed of stiff cardboard having a thickness about equal to the spacing means 18. The upper surface of the sheet 12 may be coarse or rough to provide good frictional engagement between it and the figure.

The figures 14- shown are cut to shape of resilient sheet material such as a knit or woven fabric but preferably of a polyurethane elastomer, natural or synthetic rubber having a thickness of between about and about inch. Such material is durable so that it can be flexed from time to time without damage thereto, and will not lose its resiliency due to aging when not in use. Also, this material can be formed with a smooth upper surface adapted to slide freely against the underside of the top sheet 11, and can be formed with a coarse or rough lower surface adapted to provide good frictional engagement between it and the bottom sheet 12. Furthermore, such material is available in a wide range of colors or can be colored and ornamented to depict details of the figure.

The figures 14 (FIGS. 1 and 4) may be a person, animal, bird, fish, reptile or an inanimate object, and includes a central body portion 19 and one or more extremities or portions 20 extending outwardly from the body. For example, the figures may be fairy tale characters such as Humpty-Dumpty or Jack-be-Nimble, etc., as shown herein, or dancers, acrobats or athletes.

The present invention con-templates providing a single figure in a single frame; or single figures in separate frame sections provided by frame means 21 formed with the upper frame member 15, as shown, or printed on the top sheet 11. The present invention also contemplates providing two or more figures in a single frame section, the actions of which complement each other. For example, a baseball pitcher could go through pitching motions and a batter could go through batting motions. The combination and variations of such arrangements are endless. Likewise, figures in separate frames could go through motions which complement each other. As shown herein, the upper side of the sheet 12 may be provided with the appropriate background for the figure or figures; for example, Iacks candle and Humpty- Dumptys wall, or any additional embellishment of such details.

In order to effect movement or distortion of the figures 14, the body portion 19 is adhesively secured to the underside of the top sheet 11 at 22, so that upon sliding movement of the bottom sheet 12, which is in good frictional engagement with the underside of the figure, the body portion is distorted and the portions 20 are moved with respect to the body portion.

It also has been found that movement of the figures 14 can be accentuated or made more extreme by adhesively securing a portion of the underside of the figures to the sheet 12 at one or more points 24 (FIG. 3) spaced laterally from the point 22. It further has been found that movement of the figures can be made more pronounced or realistic by providing a slit 25 in a portion of considerable area, for example, the crack in the egg of Humpty- Dumpty.

Movement of the sheet 12 is effected by providing the frame with an arrangement of exposing one or more portions of the sheet 12 for manual engagement. A suitable arrangement for this purpose includes aligned openings 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in the top and bottom frame members 15 and 17 to provide finger holes of a dimension to grip the top and bottom of the sheet 12 and to move the same laterally at least about /2 inch in any direction. Better gripping of the sheet 12 is facilitated by providing sets of openings 26 at opposite ends of the frame and providing the exposed portions of the sheet with a small aperture 27 (or stud) centrally aligned within the openings 26 3 when the sheet 12 is in its middle or unactuated position which it assumes when the figures act as a return spring upon releasing the sheet 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a toy embodying the concepts of the present invention primarily adapted for being mounted on a display card, a greeting card, a party place card, a paper cup or paper plate and the like.

The toy shown in these views generally comprises a bendable base sheet 30, a transparent bendable top sheet 31, a bendable bottom sheet 32 superimposed on the base sheet, a frame 33 of any desired configuration herein shown as rectangular by way of example having its outer edge zone secured to the top sheet to provide means for mounting the bottom sheet for movement between the top and base sheets by sliding the same, and a figure 34 formed of resilient sheet material cut to shape to provide a body or form such as the moon, as shown, having a portion of its upper surface secured to the underside of the top sheet 31 at 36 and having its lower surface in frictional engagement with the upper surface of the bottom sheet 32, whereby the figure 34 is distorted by moving the sheet 32.

Movement of the bottom sheet 32 is effected by providing the same with a tab 37 which extends outwardly of the base sheet 30 and the frame 33 through an opening 38 provided by not securing the frame to the base sheet where the tab is located.

It is contemplated that the base sheet 30 may have a cover portion 29 foldably connected thereto at the side where the opening is provided, and that the cover portion 29 may be connected to the tab 37 whereby folding of the cover portion 29 effects distortion of the figure 34.

Distortion of the figure 34 can also be effected by bending or flexing the sheets out of the place in which they are disposed.

Distortion of the figure 34 can be accentuated by securing another portion thereof to the bottom sheet 32 at 39 and/or by slitting the figure at 40 as previously explained.

The term toy is used herein in a broad sense and is intended to include educational and amusement devices of all sorts, cards, pictures, signs and advertising devices and the like.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved toy which is amusing to children as well as adults depending upon the theme depicted. The toy is constructed of a minimum of durable parts capable of being formed and assembled in a 1) practical, convenient and economical manner.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a bottom sheet, a transparent top sheet, a frame having a top and bottom for movably mounting said bottom sheet therebetween with its top holding said top sheet above said bottom sheet in a fixed position, said frame having means for exposing a portion of said bottom sheet for manual engagement to effect movement of said bottom sheet, a figure between said sheets formed of resilient sheet material cut to shape to provide a body and at least one extremity extending outwardly from the body, means for securing a portion of the body of said figure t0 the underside of said top sheet,

and means spaced laterally from said securing means for securing another portion of said figure to the top side of said bottom sheet, whereby movement of said bottom sheet effects accentuated distortive movement of said figure.

2. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said figure is slit to accentuate its movement.

3. A toy according to claim 1, wherein said means of said frame for exposing a portion of said bottom sheet are aligned finger openings in said top and bottom of said frame.

4. A toy according to claim 3, wherein said finger openings and bottom sheet portions are at opposite ends of said frame.

5. A toy according to claim 3, wherein said exposed bottom sheet portion has means for facilitating manual engagement thereof.

6. A toy comprising a transparent top sheet, a figure formed of resilient sheet material cut to shape to provide a body, means securing a portion of the figure to the underside of the top sheet, a bottom sheet under the top sheet having its upper surface in frictional engagement with the figure, means for mounting the sheets for movement with respect to each other, and means spaced laterally from said securing means for securing another portion of said figure to the top side of said bottom sheet, whereby movement of said bottom sheet effects accentuated distortion of the figure.

7. A toy according to claim 6, wherein the figure has a slit to accentuate distortion thereof.

8. A toy according to claim 6, wherein said means for mounting is a base sheet and frame secured over the top sheet and on the upper surface of the base sheet except at an area to provide a side opening between said frame and said base sheet, and said bottom sheet has means thereon extending through said opening for effecting move ment of said bottom sheet.

9. A toy comprising a bottom sheet, a transparent top sheet, a frame having a top and bottom for movably mounting said bottom sheet therebetween with its top holding said top sheet above said bottom sheet in a fixed position, said frame having means for exposing a portion of said bottom sheet for manual engagement to effect movement of said bottom sheet, a plurality of figures between said sheets formed of resilient sheet material cut to shape to provide a body and at least one extremity extending outwardly from the body, and means for securing a portion of the body of said figures to the underside of said top sheet, the underside of said figures being in frictional engagement with the top side of said bottom sheet, whereby movement of said bottom sheet effects simultaneous distortive movement of said figures.

10. A toy according to claim 9, including frame means on said sheet for separating said figures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,969 5/1912 Flegel 46-37 1,164,816 12/1915 Huston 46135 X 1,527,904 2/1925 Nater 40-106.41 X 3,070,920 1/1963 Bunin 46156 X 3,180,054 4/1965 Knott 4637 X RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, S. NATTER, L. J. BOVASSO,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TOY COMPRISING A BOTTOM SHEET, A TRANSPARENT TOP SHEET, A FRAME HAVING A TOP AND BOTTOM FOR MOVABLY MOUNTING SAID BOTTOM SHEET THEREBETWEEN WITH ITS TOP HOLDING SAID TOP SHEET ABOVE SAID BOTTOM SHEET IN A FIXED POSITION, SAID FRAME HAVING MEANS FOR EXPOSING A PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM SHEET FOR MANUAL ENGAGEMENT TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF SAID BOTTOM SHEET, A FIGURE BETWEEN SAID SHEETS FORMED OF RESILIENT SHEET MATERIAL CUT TO SHAPE TO PROVIDE A BODY AND AT LEAST ONE EXTREMITY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE BODY, MEANS FOR SECURING A PORTION OF THE BODY OF SAID FIGURE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP SHEET, AND MEANS SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID SECURING MEANS FOR SECURING ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID FIGURE TO THE TOP SIDE OF SAID BOTTOM SHEET, WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID BOTTOM SHEET EFFECTS ACCENTUATED DISTORTIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIGURE. 